Thank you to all of you who turned out tonight at Rainbow's End to see the official unveiling of the plans for the adaptive re-use of the beloved Huntridge Theater.
I hope that you are as excited as we at the Save the Huntridge Steering Committee are.
For those of you who couldn't attend, here are the plans. Remember these plans call for keeping the not only the original building, marquee and signage but also the old Bank Building and Post Office as well. Everything would be done in the Streamline Moderne look of the original building.
Eli Mizrachi is not going to tear down the building and start over. He is hoping to engage retail and business owners to invest in the Huntridge Building. It would be perfect for small shops, an art gallery, professional offices. a wine bar that serves sandwiches, artisans cheeses and desserts. The second floor would have a balcony that the offices could open out to.
The plans also call for two pads on the property sited on Charleston Blvd for a Starbucks/Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf/Peet's Coffee/Java Detour type business and a fast-food restaurant. Both of these structures would be in the same Streamline Moderne look to complement the main building.
While many had hoped that it could remain a theater or performing arts complex, the reality is that the theater seats less than 1,000 people and would require that it be standing room only seven nights a week whether it was live theater, jazz, film or some combination of all of the above. All of which makes it next to impossible to be successful.
It is an incredibly bold plan that would enhance not only the corner of
Maryland Parkway and Charleston Blvd but the nearby neighborhoods as
well. With the right mix of retail and professional offices this could be the anchor and gateway for a whole new day in the neighborhood!
Let us know what you think. by posting your comments.
The next step is the Sept. 25th Planning Commission meeting. So stay tuned for more details on that!